Syringe for applying heat-fluent impression composition to dental inlay preparationsand the like, and impression-material cartridge for use therein



H. SYRINGE FOR- APPLYING HEAT-FLUENT IMPRESSION COMPOSITION T0 DENTAL April 25, 1950 F. BOEGER INLAY PREPARATIONS AND THE LIKE, AND IMPRESSION-MATERIAL CARTRIDGE Foa usE THEREIN Filed Nov. 17, 1947 jyflvox. ma@

` N nrroeA/EP Innes" Patented Apr. 25, 195@ SYRINGEFOE APPLYIN G HEAT-FLUENT IM PRESSION COMPQSITION TO DENTAL IN.. LAY PREPARATIONS AND THE LIKE, ANI) IMPRESSION-MATERIAL CARTRIDGE' FRV USE THEREIN Henry E.. Boeger,v Beverly Hills, Calif., assigner t0.- Surgident, Ltd.,.rWest Los Angeles, Calif., a. corporation of* California AlpplicationN'orember 17, 1947, Serial No. 786,526

7. Claims.. (Cl. 12e-215) This invention. relates; to ,mear-1s.' for utilizing, heatllluentdental impression com-positions, suchv as hyd'rocol-loidl compositions of the agar-agar type, for the purpose oi taking impressions of relatively small cavities er tooth-preparations, as in the technique. of producing dental inlays, and pertains particularly to a. construetionlwhich prov videsf'orr facile utilization. of such compositions by the dentist or technician a manner suchV as. not only to produce they desired impression but also to prevent discomfort both tol the patient and the technician whicirnormally `may result from. thei use of. heated appliances. andv materials.

These compositions, as Weill knovvn, have the characteristic. of congealing. to a resilient solid condition at a temperature at or near body temperaturewheri cooled ,to` such congealing temperatur'e from a heated", fluent condition. Y

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide a syringe construction, 'and an lm pr'escionfmatferi'al cartridge for use therein', which will enable the dentist or practitioner to dispense a desired quantity e'fheatefluidized impression composition into the desired location in the pa-y tientls mouth Without danger of contacting the patient Vvvith any object has been heated to.` apoint 'such as to be unbearable upon or injurious to the sensitive mouth tissues', 1

A further object of the invention is to provideV a syringe of the type above set forth,- vvhich; can' be'v mamnacturedl and made available to the dentist orv other' practitioner at a nominal cost,A ast compared with comparable devices which havey heretoforel been avail-able..

A further object of the invention is toV provide an, impress-ionematerialcartridge element foruse f i in the syringe member ,above-described, which maybe directly immersed in a heating 11u-id such as water for the purpose of rendering'the. containedy impression-material properly fluent. after which the cartridge Arriay be inserted. Within. the

syringe and the contained material made availn able `for immediate extrusion or dispensing into the desired cavity or dental preparation. f

, Prior to the conception of my invention, it has been the practice in the dentalart, Where heatf fluent impression material of the character of an agar-agar hydrocollcid is to be employed. fortan:- ing so-called inlay impressions, to vinsert fragments or pieces of solidified impression-inaterial into a more-or-l'ess conventional syringe, pro

it for a suflicient time` to render thel contained. impression-material suitably fluent. When the. impression-material has been so heated within the syringe, as above-described, the dentist removes the syringe from` the hot, Water, and ex-f. trudes the iluentmaterial through4 the mentioned needle into the desireddental preparation, and in view of the fact that many of these, preparations are located in relatively inaccessible spots, within the mouth, it is not uncommon for the: dentist to inadvertently allow thel syringe, member to come into contact with the mouth tissues, often with a resulting involuntary movement onI the partl of a patient which is sufficient. toy seriously interfere with the successful impression,- taking operation, and is in any case rather detrimental to good doctorzpatient relations. This. practice, above-described, isalso` objectionablefrom the standpointof. the maintenance of proper conditions of sterility, resulting from the handling of the impression composition in its solidied form, loading the syringe, etc., inasmuch` as the boiling period for converting the solidified impression-material to its desired fluent condition may not in all cases be adequate to insure com. plete sterilization.

According to the practice of the preparation of inlay impressions utilizing the syringe and im,- pression-material cartridge of the present disclosure, the syring structure per se may have been thoroughly sterilized and cooledl to a usable temperature prior to its use by the dentist, and when the dentist. desires to take an inlay impression he has merely to placel the cartridge of this invention in boiling Water, boil, it for a length of time suicient, to thoroughly fluidize the contained impression composition,A insert the impression-material cartridge bodily into the syringe, and extrude the material through an associated needle member Without ever having had to expose the contents to the atmosphere. Even though the cartridge itself is near the boiling pointA of water, or has been cooled oi only to a point where it is still duid but sufficiently cool to be discharged into the inlay preparation, the heated cartridge and its material is disposed within a syringe membei" which is at relatively normal temperature, so that if the syringe'v should ,come into contact with the patients mouth there Will be no burning sensation. Furthermore, the syringe being at a normal or relativelylovv temperature, there is no discomfort to the dentist as the syringe is put into use, and for this reason the dentist is able to takethe' desired impression with greater stability and manual dexterity.

The device of this invention comprises, essen'- tially, a syringe having an elongated casing member or barrel and a coacting plunger member, such barrel being adapted to receive an elongated cartridge comprising a capsule containing a quantity of the impression composition. The cartridge capsule has an open end through which the plunger' member is adapted to be extended into contact with a sealing plug which is provided Within the capsule for the dual function of providing a substantially hermetic closure for the cartridge, and of serving as a 'piston member against which the plunger may act in producing the desired extrusion of the contained material for use. l

The material-containing cartridge may be provided with a discharge duct or needle secured thereto having a discharge passage communicating with the position of the contained material, through which the heat-fluidized material may be extruded or dispensed for use, and the barrel of the syringe may be provided with an elongated slot through which the discharge duct may extend as the cartridge is inserted in the syringe. Alternatively, the'W cartridge capsule may be formed ofa material which is readily subject to puncture, so that a discharge needle may be inserted through the side wall of the cartridge into communication with the contained impression material after the cartridge is incorporated in the syringe.

The above and other features of this invention will be brought out in the ensuing description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, or will be apparent from such description, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

QFig. l is a perspective view of the assembled syringe and cartridge of this invention, ready for use in taking an inlay impression;

"Fig 2 is partly broken away side elevation of a form of cartridge which may be utilized in the assembly shown in Fig. l f

' Fig. 3 is a partly sectional longitudinal view of the assembled syringe and cartridge of Fig. l, showing the internal structure of the syringe with the cartridge inserted therein as it is employed for taking the impression, with the initial insertion position of the cartridge being shown frag-V mentarily in dot-dash lines; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modied form of cartridge and syringe construction, corresponding to the lower end of the sectional showing in Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 through 3, the syringe structure of this inven tion may comprise an elongated cylindrical casing I, formed of metal or, more preferably, a material of relatively low heat conductivity, such as a synthetic resin, provided witha nger grip member 2 thereon having a cylindrical opening 3 adapted to fit rotatably about the casing I. The grip member 2 is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed finger grip portions 4 and is adapted to engage upon an `annular shoulder 5 on the open end 5 of the casing! as at l. :v

Thecasing I- isl provided with a cylindrical chamber [la adaptedr .to receive ,-a. cartridge C comprising a 'capsule S :containing V i'.he-irlesired impression material,l the capsule v8 having-genl erally cylindrical side walls 9, an open end I0," and an end wall dcatfthe opposite end.;Y Av body of heat fluent impression-material is provided-within the lower portion of the capsule 8, as atl I, and is sealed therein through the agency of aclosure plug or stopper I2 which is preferably formed, of agresiliently ,compressible material such asprnbber, and which is placed within the capsule 8 in substantial abutment with the body II, as at I2a, to the substantial exclusion of extraneous air.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. l through 3 the cartridge C is provided with a xecl discharge needle I3 provided with a dispensing passage I4 and having a ange portion I5 molded into the side wall of the capsule 8 adjacent the lower end thereof, such capsule side Wall being provided with an opening I6 communicating with the passage I4.

The cartridge C is adapted to fit within the cylindrical casing I `by insertion thereof through the open end-5, after the manner shown in dotdash lines at C' in Fig. 3, and in order to accommodate the needle I3, which extends outwardly from the cartridge at an angle to the length of the cartridge, a slot I1 may be provided in the side wall of the casing I extending from adjacent the other end of the casing toward the position of the finger grip member 2, and approaching into sufficient proximity with the latter to permit the needle to be inserted in the slot from the interior of the casing when the cartridge is tilted to the dotted line position. The cartridge may then be brought into alinement with the casing member I and moved longitudinally within the chamber Ia, toward and into engagement with the other end 8a of said casing member, which provides a shoulder or abutment to limit such movement and hold the capsule 8 against movement during extrusion of the contents thereof as described hereinafter.

The syringe structure also comprises a plunger member I8, provided with a hand grip portion I9 and having a push rod 20 adapted to extend into the cavity 2| of the cartridge capsule 8 and to make contact therein with the closure plug I2. The relative length of the cartridge C and the casing I is preferably such that when the lower end of the cartridge is seated in the lower end of the casing, the upper end 22 of the cartridge extends outwardly beyond the open end 6 of the casing so as to permit ready and unscreened access to the cavity 2| of the cartridge capsule. The hand grip portion I9 of the plunger member I8 may be shaped as illustrated or of other convenient shape, but of course that terminal portion of the push rod 20 which extends into the cavity 2 IV of the capsule 8 must be proportioned to provide an annular space between itself and the casing member I suicient to receive the wall 9 of the capsule, said annular space being occupied by said wall 9 when the cartridge is in operative position within the casing I, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the radius of said terminal portion of push rod 20 is less than the radius of the inner bore or chamber. Ia of casing I, by an amount approximatelyy equal tothe thickness of the capsule sidev Wall 9.-

To seal Yofi? andprotecttherexposed end of the discharge needle .lpriortoruse a cap 23 may be provided, if desired, -Said cap may be ofl plastic orrubber, and ispreferably formed by dipping the endofthe needle in a. solution of plastic sealing material. K

; `FIoinstall; and Vutilizea cartridge, containing heat fluent Vimpression-material with the syringe asseinblyas above described, the'cartridge C, with stopper I2 in :place in abutment with the body I I of the. materiaLrispplacedj in boiling rWater and heated until the contained material is iiuidized and the needleylrssterilized. The vplunger I8 5 is removed from the casing I the cap 23 (if prs-i ent) is 'removed from the needle I3, and the cartridge C is inserted in the bore or chamber la of the casing by tilting the cartridge as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3 to permit the needle I3 to 'enter the upper end of the slot Il, by which the needle is guided to its operative position at .the lower end of the casing. The plunger I8 is then inserted in the bore or cavity 2l of thecartridge capsule 8 so that the terminal portion of push rod 2l) is brought into contact with the stopper I2, When the needle I3 hasbeen placed in proximity with the desired dental preparation, manual pressure upon the'nger grips 4 and hand grip I9 will force the stopper iE downwardly, as a piston, and will cause the heat-fluent material to exe' trude through the dispensingV passage I4 of the needle. The dentist or technician will find, to his, convenience, that the casing I and the grips 4 and I9 are relatively cool, that the contents of the cartridge have not been exposed to unsterile conditions, and that ther finger grips il and hand grip I9 are rotatable to any desired angle with ree Aspect to the needle I3 so that the latter may be directed as desired, the plunger It nevertheless tending to bind against the stopper I2 when pres-h sure is exerted thereon so that the syringe does not turn accidentally in the operators hand. The patient will rind, to his comfort, that the ex posed casing l is relativelycool to his mouth tissues. In Fig. 4 is illustrated a modified form of my invention, having a dispensing needle 26 provided as'a separate, attachable unit. The syringecase ing 21 has an opening 28 adjacent its closed end.

and communicating with the inner bore or cham ber 29 at a convenient angle. The cartridge C" comprising a capsule 36, which in this modied form is made of moisture-impermeable material which punctures readily, particularly after be;

device, a number of cartridges C may be kept g;

on hand, loaded with various compositions of heat-fiuidizable material as indicated at 34, and may be heated and'used as required. Also a num Yer .of needles 2S, of various lengths and thicknesses, may'beutilized selectively', being inserted through the opening 2B to puncture the cartridge 3i) and being withdrawn therefrom when their temporary use is terminated. The casing I, shown in the preferred embodiment of my invention, is interchangeable with the casing 21, as the needle 28V may equally wel] be inserted through the lower end of the slot il. Except as above explained, the two above described embodi ments oi my invention, including the plunger I3, and the method of use thereof, may be identical.

Having described preferred embodiments of my invention, it Ywill be evident that various changes in the details and arrangement ol parts may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofzmy invention as deiined in the Vclaims asserted in this application; and consequently I wish it under stood that the foregoing description is considered as being illustrative of, rather than restrictive upon, the appended claims.

Gil

l. A cartridge vstructure adapted for use in disa pensing a normally solid heatefluidizable material of the character of hydrocolloid impression composition, which comprises: an elongated capsule formed of substantially moisture-imperme-` able material and having side wall portions de'- ning a generally cylindrical cavity open at one end and closed at the other end; a body of solid hat-iluidizable material disposed in said cavity in substantially uniform Contact with the internal s ide wall i'surfaces of said capsule and extending from said closed end to a position intermediate the ends thereof; a resiliently compressible closure plug slidably dispo-sed wholly within said cavity in substantial abutment with said body at said position and being compressively engaged with said side wall portions to form a substantiall'y hermetic seal therewith, said side wall por-- tions projecting beyond the position of said plug towards said open end; and a tubular discharge member Asecured to a wall portion of said capsule at' said closed end and extending outwardly theree from at an angle to the length of said capsule,- s'aid last mentioned wall portion being provided with an opening establishing communication be tween said tubular discharge member and said cavity.

2. A cartridge structure adapted for use in dispensing a normally solid lieat-uidizable matee rial of the character of hydrocolloid impression composition, which comprises: an elongated cape suie formed of substantially moisture-impermeable material and having side wall portions diining a generally cylindrical cavity open at one end and closed at the other end; a body of solid heat-luidizable material disposed in said cavity in substantially uniform contact with the internal side wall surfaces 0f said capsule and extending from said closed end to a position intermediate the ends thereof; a resiliently coinpress'ible clxosure plug slidably disposed wholly within said cavity in substantial abutment with said body at said position and being compressively engaged with 'said side wall portions to form a substantially hermetic seal therewith, said side wall portions projecting beyond the position of said plug towards said open end; and a tubular discharge member secured to a wall portion of said capsule at said closed end and extending outwardlyT therefrom, said discharge member being provided at its inner end with a flange secured within said last mentioned wall portion of the capsule, and said wall portion being provided with an opening es* tablishing communication between said tubular discharge member and said cavity.-

3. A cartridge structure adapted for use in dis-Y pensing a normally solid heat-fluidizable mates rial of the character of hydrocolloid impression composition, which comprises: an elongated capsule formed of substantially moisture-impermeable material and having side wall portions deiining a generally cylindrical cavity open at one end and closed at the other end; a body of solid heat-fluidizable material disposed in said cavity in substantially uniform contact with the internal side wall surfaces of said capsule and extending from said closed end to a position intermediate the ends thereof; a resiliently compressible closure plug slidably disposed wholly within said cavity in substantial abutment with said body at said position and being compressively engaged with said side wall portions to Vform a substantially hermetic seal therewith,

said side wall portions projecting beyond the position oi said plug towards said open'end; and a; tubular-discharge member secured to a wallportion of said capsule at said closed end,- communicating atits inner end with the cavity of said capsule,-and extending outwardly from the capsule atan angle to the length cf the @3DS-111C- 4. VA construction for use in dispensing a normally solid heat-uidizable material of the character of hydrocolloid composition, which comprises, in combination: a casing of circular cross section having an elongated chamber open at one end of the casing and provided with an opening in the wall thereof adjacent the other end of the casing; a iinger'grip member on said casing adjacent said one end thereof in position to constrain said' casing member against longitudinal displacement thereof in a direction such asto force said one end past said grip member; an` elongated cartridge Ycomprising a capsule formed of substantially moisture-impermeable material and having a wall dening an elongated cavity open at one end and closed at the other end, saidcartridge being adapted to be disposed in said cylindrical chamber with its open end located adjacent the open end of said casing and with its closed end seated .at the other end of said casing, and said capsule containing a body of heat-fluidizable material disposed therein; said cartridge having a resiliently compressible closure plug slidably disposed Within said capsule adjacent said open end of the capsule in substantial abutment with said body of material and compressively engaged with the wall of said capsule to form a seal therewith, and said cartridge being provided at its closed end with a tubular discharge member secured to the wall of said capsule and projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted to extend through said opening in the wall of the casing when said cartridge is disposed in said chamber; the wall of said capsule being provided with an opening establishing communication between said tubular dischargeA member and said cavity; and a plunger member having an elongated push rod of a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said casing and adapted for insertion within the cylindrical cavity of said capsule.

5. A construction for use in dispensing a normally solid heat-fluidizable material of the character of hydrocoiloid composition, which comprises, in combination: a casing of circular cross section having an elongated chamber open at one end of the casing and provided with an opening in the wall thereof adjacent the other end of the casing; a iinger grip member on said casing adjacent said one end thereof in position to constrain said casing member against longitudinal displacement thereof in a direction such-as to force said `one end past said grip member; an elongated cartridge comprising a capsule formed o f substantially moisture-impermeable material and having a Wall defining an elongated cavity open at one end and closed at the otherend, said cartridge being adapted to be disposed in said cylindrical chamber with its open end located adjacent the open end of said casing and with its closed end seated at the other end of said casing, and said capsule containing a body of heat-i'luidizable material disposed therein; said cartridge having a resiliently compressible closure plug slidably disposed within said capsule adjacent said open end of the capsule in i substantial abutment with said body of material and compressively engaged with the wall of said capsule to form a seal therewith, and said cartridge being provided at its closed end with a tubular discharge member secured to the Wall of said capsule and communicating at its inner end with4 the cavity therein, said tubular discharge member projecting outwardly from the capsule and being adapted to extend through said opening in the. wall of the casing when said cartridge is disposed in` said chamber; and a plunger member having an elongated push rod of a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said casing and adapted for insertion Within the cylindrical cavity of said capsule.

6. A construction asset forth in claim 5, in which the opening in the wall of the casing comprises an elongated slot extending from a position adjacent said'other'end of thecasing toward the open end thereof, and the tubular discharge member extends outwardly from the cartridge at an angle to the length of said cartridge so as to project slidably through said elongated slot during movement of said cartridge Within said casing to a position to engage said other end of the casing.

7. A construction as set forth in claim 5, said finger grip member being rotatably mounted on said elongated casing for relative rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of said casing.

HENRY F. BOEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 913,297 Krautschneider Feb. 23, 1909 .978,488 Roesch Dec. 13, 1910 1,574,579 Jones Feb. 23, 1926 2,238,582 Dickinson Apr. 15, 1941 2,409,656 Austin Oct. 22, 1946 2,431,406 Lasersohn Nov. 25, 1947 

